Total ban on GM food production mulled in Russia

A group of Russian MPs have prepared a bill severely restricting imports of genetically modified agricultural produce, and completely banning its domestic production.

The initiative is backed by Evgeny Fyodorov of the parliamentary
majority United Russia and a group called Russian Sovereignty,
which unites MPs from various parties and parliamentary factions.

The politicians want to amend the existing law On Safety and
Quality of Alimentary Products with a norm set for the maximum
allowed content of transgenic and genetically modified
components. The powers to establish that norm go to the
government and products with excessive content of GMO components
should be banned for turnover and imports.

Currently there are no limitations on the turnover or production
of GMO-containing foodstuffs in Russia. However, when the
percentage of GMO exceeds 0.9 percent the producer must label
such goods and warn consumers. Last autumn the government passed
a resolution allowing the listing of genetically modified plants
in the Unified State Register, but this resolution will come in
force only in July this year.

The main sponsor of the bill, Fyodorov, said in comments to
Izvestia daily that he wanted to make this norm zero for all
foodstuffs produced in Russia. The draft bans the production of
genetically modified organisms and transgenic products of plant,
animal or microbial origin for their use in human and animal
foods.

Fyodorov said that this measure was needed because international
corporations could try to bypass the limitations on imports by
launching GMO production inside Russia. He added that under the
new bill businessmen still can register genetically modified
organisms and conduct research, but not grow and sell them until
a slightest doubt of their safety remains.

Professionals perceived the initiative differently. The head of
Russia’s Organic Farming Union, Yakov Lyubovedsky, holds that the
passing of the bill would show if the Duma can defend the
country’s independence and the interests of population. He also
added that GMO was an experiment on humanity itself and that the
industry could do very well without genetically-enhanced plants
and animals.

The president of the Grain Producers’ Union, Arkady Zlochevsky
holds the opposite opinion. He told Izvestia that the suggested
measure would be extremely harmful for Russian farmers as they
would be deprived of modern technology and their foreign
competitors would be still allowed to export their goods to
Russia.

If legislators decide on a ban, it should be complete, including
consumption, but this is currently not possible, Zlochevsky
noted. In addition the limitations would create a threat of
uncontrolled and dangerous spread of illegal genetically modified
crops, Zlochevsky noted.

The pro-GMO businessman also pointed out that the discussion of
the problem should not be limited to the agriculture and food
industries. He said that 70 percent of genetically enhanced
materials were used in pharmacology and medicine, 20 percent were
used in industry and only 10 percent of GMOs were used in
agriculture and food production.

The bill will be submitted to the lower house in two weeks’ time
and its authors claim that its chances of passing are very high.